Remington model 1100

[gregsorg]

I was recently given an 1100. I quickly noticed that the hammer would not drop when dry fired.

The operating handle on the bolt was stuck in about the half way point and could not be moved.

I took it out to fire it and the carrier assembly would not move far enough to load shells into the magazine tube.

When the bolt was forward in the firing position, there was a gap between it and the chamber face.

When I took a better look at it, it seems that the tang on the end of the barrel that gets inserted into the receiver was making the bolt jam. This prompted me to remove the barrel and check the action. With the barrel removed, the action seemed to work perfectly. When I reinserted the barrel, the same jamming effect as before has occured. This makes me wonder if I have the wrong barrel on the gun.

Is it possible that this remington model 1100 has a remington model 11-87 barrel on it?

[Virginian]

11-87 barrel won't do that. It will fit fine and the action will close unless something else is wrong. The only point of interference on an 11-87 barrel with an 1100 is where the gas shield from an 11-87 is missing from the forearm or gas ring on an 1100. The barrels will fit and swap, but there is a danger of the venting gas damaging the fore arm on an 1100. If you look at an 11-87 "target" barrel, and can tell it from an 1100 barrel without looking at the lettering you are better than I am.
Is the extractor fitting in the slot on the barrel extension? Later extractors are wider, won't match up with an earlier barrel.

[gregsorg]

The extractor does line up with the extractor slot in the barrel, but the bolt does not close enough to seat it.

[Virginian]

Well, something is obviously wrong. If you haven't already, go to http://www.remington.com and download an owner's manual. Then, starting with unscrewing the magazine cap and slipping the forearm off, take it apart. May just need a good cleaning. Something is (hopefully) gunked up and stuck somewhere. Do not use excessive force on anything. When everything is right, it comes apart and goes together without muscle. Might need to get some RemOil, G-96, etc. to spray the guts and let things soak once you see where it is stuck. If you run into a roadblock, come back here and we'll figure it out.

[gregsorg]

Problem fixed!

The man who gave me this gun told me it has never been shot. (serial number MxxxxxxV tell me it is from the late 70's, early 80's)

The gun was origially shipped with a cardboard packing ring on the magazine that was suppose to be removed before the barrel was installed (found this tidbit in the owner's manual). The packing ring was stuck on the inside of the barrel lug, where the gas ports are located. This ring was preventing the action from closing completely.

The removal of the ring now allows the action to close properly and for the hammer to be released during dry firing.

Thank you for your efforts.

Gregg.